Finn World Masters 1970 - 1996

History of the Finn World Masters

By Peter Mohilla

The first suggestion for a special Finn Veteran Gold Cup for sailors over 40 years of age was presented by Dr. Fred and Heidi Auer at the 1969 AGM in Bermuda. The Auers - in those days the most active force in the Finn Class - also organised the first Veteran Gold Cup on the Silvaplana See close to St. Moritz in Switzerland. Even Rickard Sarby sailed in the regatta to represent Sweden. When the first race was scheduled it was raining and very cold. So most of the veterans would have preferred not to sail. But the Dutch Mel Oskamp declared to be eager to sail, and so the race was started. When the sun came, the wind grew even stronger. It always paid to sail very close to the shore along the Ho-Tschi-Minh-path. Finally Mel Oskamp won and therefore had to organise the next event in Holland. From this time stems the tradition, that the winner has the right to decide the place of the next Veteran Gold Cup.

1. Veteran Gold Cup 1970

St. Moritz, Silvaplana See, Switzerland,

18 entries from 8 countries

1. Mel Oskamp H 396 5.6

2. Othmar Reich Z 183 9.9

3. Worn Clark SA 393 12.9

4. Jakob Janich G 945 16.0

5. Åke Sätre S 272 19.0

6. Rickard Sarby S 517 20.6

7. Louis Schiess Z 217 22.0

8. Marc Lambelet Z 221 25.0

9. Jacques Gillard B 77 25.6

In 1971, Mel Oskamp invited the veterans to Medemblik. Menoni from Italy won and therefore took the Cup to Lake Garda. where Mel Oskamp won it back in 1972. However, since Mel already knew how much work it was to organise such a regatta, he declined the honour to do it again and delegated it back to Switzerland. In 1973, 14 participants met at Lac de Neuchatel. De Yong from Holland arrived, looked around and declared that on that lake there would be no wind and left again the same hour, without even having unpacked his boat. He was right. since only one race was sailed in very poor wind conditions and the title was not assigned.

2. Veteran Gold Cup 1971

Medemblik, Holland, September 17-19

13 entries from 6 countries

1. Andreino Menoni L 447 9.0

2. Othmar Reich Z 183 14.4

3. Mel Oskamp H 396 20.4

4. W. Heisch G 1050 54.7

5. Jacques Gillard B 77 39.4

6. Martin Quadfass Z 136 60.7

7. P. Hakker H 63 63.0

3. Veteran Gold Cup 1972

Gargnano, Lago di Garda, Italy, July 29-31

14 entries from 6 countries

1. Mel Oskamp H 396 5.7

2. Andreino Menoni I 447 19.0

3. Beda Zingg Z 271 22.4

4. Gino Filippini I 417 26.7

5. Jean Gillard B 77 35.4

6. Franco Ciresa I 338 37.7

7. Othmar Reich Z 290 43.0

4. Veteran Gold Cup 1973

Neuchatel, Switzerland

Because of poor weather conditions the title was not assigned.

In 1974 twenty competitors from eight countries met in Port Camargue. Racing was tough with two heats in Force 4 on the first day. which Vernon Stratton won both. When the wind got weaker every day. Stratton faded out. Andre Mevel took over and had difficulties to beat Mel Oskamp.

5. Veteran Gold Cup 1974

Port Camargue, France, June 19-23

20 entries from 8 countries

1. Andre Mevel F 12.0

2. Mel Oskamp H 35.7

3. Vernon Stratton K 48.0

4. P. Goujon F 53.7

5. Catalano I 61.7

6. R. Gorchon F 68.4

7. J. Goujon F 73.7

8. Lebois F 77.7

9. Reich Z 81.4

10. Lombard SA 85.7

Mevel kept the Cup in Port Camargue for 1975. Regular winds from force 1-3 ensured perfect racing with Philippe Soria as the chairman of the race committee. Andre Mevel, in those days the French Finn Secretary, was able to beat Othmar Reich from Switzerland in a 7 boat fleet.

6. Veteran Gold Cup 1975

Port Camargue, France, June 24-28

7 entries from 4 countries

1. Andre Mevel F 629 17.7

2. Othmar Reich Z 290 19.4

3. Erich Kaspareth I 368 24.4

4. Louis Schiess Z 217 33.7

Andre Mevel won again in 1976 with Laszlo Zsindely runner-up and Othmar Reich third, who had been participating since the first event in 1970.

7. Veteran Gold Cup 1976

Port Camargue, France, June 13-19

1. Andre Mevel F

2. Laszlo Zsindely Z

3. Othmar Reich Z

The 1977 event had very good participation with 27 skippers from 7 countries. The newcomer Georg Oser, who had learned the basics of sailing just a few years before managed to beat them all, starting a sparkling career in the Veteran Gold Cup regattas. After the race, Georg declined the privilege to organise the next event on the spot and asked the Centre de Yachting Mediterranean, personified in Robert Laban, to organise it again in 1978.

8. Veteran Gold Cup 1977

Port Camargue, France, June 11-17

28 entries from 7 countries

1. Georg Oser Z 1 38.0

2. Heinz Reiter G 1594 39.7

3. Andre Mevel F 629 40.0

4. Laszlo Zsindely Z 347 41.7

5. B. L. Morley KZ 12 42.0

6. H. Sellschopp G 523 47.4

7. P. Lebois F 713 60.7

8. Mel Oskamp H 1 63.7

9. E. Kaspareth I 368 66.0

10. C. Sturm Z 352 66.7

11. H.Wildhagen G 1518 72.7

12. Louis Schiess Z 217 78.0

13. J.P. Auzas F 647 81.0

14. Othmar Reich Z 290 86.7

15. Gilbert Lamboley F 588 90.0

By this time the Germans had taken over the majority of participants and so it was only a question of statistics when one of them would win the Cup. In 1978 Heinz Reiter won the Veteran Gold Cup by never winning a race but scoring 3/5/2/2/4 and discarding a 12th.

9. Veteran Gold Cup 1978

Port Camargue, France, June 11-17

37 entries from 8 countries

1. Heinz Reiter G 1594 29.7

2. P. Lebois F 713 31.7

3. Georg Oser Z 1 39.4

4. Laszlo Zsindely Z 347 52.7

5. Karel Hruby CZ 26 61.7

6. Othmar Reich Z 364 64.0

7. Andre Mevel F 629 69.4

8. Hans Chiochetti I 506 72.0

9. Erich Kaspareth I 627 79.0

10. G. Schilling G 1310 82.0

11. Hand Dieter Faass G 1298 83.0

12. Gilbert Lamboley F 588 84.0

13. Mel Oskamp H 544 84.4

14. J.P. Auzas F 647 84.7

15. Sturm Z 352 86.0

When he offered to organise the Veterans for 1979. a committee was formed to override his ambitions and to retain the event in sunny Port Camargue in the experienced hands of Philippe Soria and Robert Laban. When Karel Hruby was the winner in 1979 he turned out to be more stubborn than Reiter the previous year and nobody could convince him not to take the organisation along.

10. Veteran Gold Cup 1979

Port. Camargue, France, June 4-9

29 entries from 7 countries

1. Karel Hruby CZ 26 9.0

2. C. Sturm Z 352 28.0

3. Andre Mevel F 629 38.1

4. Othmar Reich Z 364 41.0

5. Georg Oser Z 2 44.7

6. J. Termoz F 736 45.5

7. Eric Larsson S 596 50.0

8. Hand Dieter Faass G 1298 50.0

9. J. Ask S 419 60.0

10. J. Martin F 717 63.7

11. Hanno Wildhagen G 1518 65.7

12. Roland Wenz G 1696 67.0

13. Orounet Lagrange F 682 68.7

So in 1980 the veterans had to go to Czechoslovakia to Lake Lipno. 30 skippers from 7 countries made the trip. The organisation was of highest standard. Seven races were sailed. Whenever the defending champion Karel Hruby was in front. the wind died. When Georg Oser was lucky the races were counted. So, finally Oser won his second title far ahead of defender and runner-up Karel Hruby.

11. Veteran Gold Cup 1980

Lake Lipno, CSSR, June 21-27

30 entries from 7 countries

1. Georg Oser Z 17.0

2. Karel Hruby CZ 31.7

3. Jiri Maier CZ 49.0

4. Dr. Egbert Vincke G 53.7

5. Walter Schuster OE 55.4

6. Václav Hudec CZ 66.1

7. Othmar Reich Z 74.7

8. Milo Splitek CZ 74.7

9. Werner Oberheidt G 81.7

10. Klaus Schulze G 91.7

11. Erich Kaspareth I 102.0

12. Helmut Junker G 102.0

13. Miroslav Vejvoda CZ 103.7

14. Antonin Vachek CZ 106.0

15. Elmer Rist G 109.0

According to his habit Oser again delegated the organisation to southern France. Good-natured Robert Laban took the full load once again. 38 skippers from 10 nations came after the sun and some exciting sailing. Gy Wossala had superior speed in good winds and won four races, then finished second behind Georg Oser and did not sail in the final heavy wind race.

12. Veteran Gold Cup 1981

Port Camargue, France, June 7-13

38 entries from 10 countries

1. Gy Wossala M 3.0

2. Georg Oser Z 21.7

3. Frank Roth Z 31.4

4. O. Burger Z 42.4

5. Peter Bohland G 52.4

6. Erich Kaspareth I 62.0

7. Jiri Maier CZ 63.7

8. Bernd HaIler G 67.0

9. Peter Kron G 72.0

10. Karel Hruby CZ 77.7

11. Eric Larsson S 78.7

12. P. Gellert G 82.0

13. C. Sturm Z 93.0

14. Othmar Reich Z 96.0

15. J. Martin F 97.0

16. Werner Orth G 111.0

17. Peter Mohilla OE 111.7

18. Hans Dieter Faass G 112.0

19. Roland Wenz G 113.0

20. E. Holub CZ 119.0

Gy Wossala was not able or willing to stage the next Championship in his home waters Lake Balaton and therefore delegated it to Austria. Nice gentle winds for the skippers and sun for the ladies were the predominant features of the 1982 Veteran Gold Cup. Ivan Hoffmann was leading most of the time up until the last beat of the last race, and everybody was thinking of sailing in the CSSR again. However smart Georg Oser won that last race and the title for the third time to ring up Robert Laban for help once more.

13. Veteran Gold Cup 1982

Lake Neusiedl, Austria, May 31-June 4

51 entries from 7 countries

1. Georg Oser Z 1 21.0

2. Ivan Hoffmann CZ 93 25.7

3. Friedrich Müller G 1683 34.0

4. G. Wossala M 7 34,4

5. Klaus von Packowski G 1756 56.0

6. Peter Mohilla OE 1 60.0

7. Erich Kaspareth I 665 64.0

8. Karel Hruby CZ 262 66.0

9. G. Schilling G 7 67.0

10. Horst Klein G 1687 67.0

11. Adalbert Wiest G 1336 67.4

12. Erich Baumgartner OE 222 72.7

13. Gerhard Gfreiner OE 158 73.0

14. Klaus Schulze G 1704 73.0

15. Peter Bohland G 1562 75.0

16. Jiri Maier CZ 654 75.0

17. Elmer Rist G 998 78.7

18. Dieter Ottlik G 1798 86.0

19. Werner Oberheidt G 1810 86.0

20. V. Chalupnik CZ 371 90.7

And Robert Laban was kind enough to grant it. However the wind in Port Camargue was already bored by the constant visits of the old boys. Seven times is fine, but eight is too much and so it was determined to expel the veterans from that paradise. Therefore it blew a lot in 1983; for some too much. The favourite, Georg Oser, collected two wins but also twice a PMS and dropped to 10th overall. The unexpected winner was Heini Unterhauser from German speaking northern Italy.

14. Veteran Gold Cup 1983

Port Camargue, France, May 21-28

48 entries from 8 countries

1. Heini Unterhauser I 651 24.4

2. Frank Roth Z 334 47.7

3. H. Herwig G 1682 52.4

4. Werner Oberheidt G 1810 53.0

5. Friedrich Müller G 1683 55.1

6. Erich Kaspareth I 665 55.7

7. Andrea Roost Z 9 56.0

8. Peter Bohland G 1562 68.4

9. U. Gut Z 409 79.0

10. Georg Oser Z 2 87.0

11. Bernd Gunther G 1565 88.0

12. Bernd HaIler G 1853 93.0

13. Dieter Ottlik G 1798 97.0

14. C. Sturm Z 352 110.0

15. Elmer Rist G 998 111.0

16. Eric Larsson S 596 118.0

17. Rolf Lehnert G 1815 113.0

18. Hendrik Vincke G 1312 115.0

19. Karel Hruby CZ 26 118.0

20. Hans Dieter Mölls G 1509 125.0

15. Veteran Gold Cup 1984

Lago di Caldaro/Kalterersee, Italy

June 11-15, 103 entries from 8 countries

1. Walter Mai G 1818 6.0

2. Palle-Steen Larsen D 147 6.0

3. Friedrich Müller G 1683 28.4

4. Klaus Stuffer I 506 35.7

5. Jürgen Bärwind G 1790 41.0

6. Jürgen Oberheidt G 1810 48.4

7. G.J. van der Werf H 615 50.7

8. Heinrich Unterhauser I 651 52.7

9. Peter Bohland G 1562 54.0

10. Bernd Gunther G 1565 56.4

11. Walter Schuster OE 208 56.7

12. H. Herwig G 1682 59.1

13. Georg Oser Z 1 59.7

14. Laszlo Zsindely Z 347 61.0

15. Alan Tucker OE 490 63.7

16. Václav Hudec CZ 10 69.0

17. B. Burton Barbour OE 504 69.0

18. Frank Roth Z 334 69.4

19. Horst Klein G 1687 72.7

20. Klaus v. Packowski G 1756 75.0

21. Erich Kaspareth I 665 76.0

22. Franz Steib G 1676 82.0

23. Fabio Albarelli I 516 83.7

24. Dieter Ottlik G 1798 84.7

25. Adalbert Wiest G 1836 86.0

26. O. Andergassen I 662 87.0

27. Günter Kellermann G 1589 87.0

28. Herbert Sondermann G 1 774 98.0

29. Klaus Weixelbaumer OE 219 100.0

30. RoIf Lehnert G 1815 101.0

31. Elmar Rist G 998 101.7

32. Erich Baumgartner OE 222 103.0

33. Riccardo Grande I 147 103.0

34. Berthold Hailer G 1853 105.7

35. Cornel Mayrgündter I 694 107.0

That is one of the most pleasant spots in the world. Charming vineyards, a comfortable climate, and hospitable people are the main attraction. There is even a small water in between, which they selected for the Veterans: the Kalterersee. They had to divide the fleet into two groups, otherwise it would not have been possible to get the more than 100 boats across the line, already hitting the shores on both sides. Old hand Walter Mai and newcomer Palle-Steen Larsen were equal in overall points before the last race, which was not sailed because there was no wind. So they gave the title to Mai, because he was second in the first race when Palle-Steen ended up 25th.

In 1985, an even larger number of veterans gathered in Bavaria. Lake Chiemsee offered not too much wind, but it was good enough for four races. The veterans were no challenge for the professional Jorgen Lindhardtsen who won with four straight line honours. The 110 amateurs behind him enjoyed the event very much.

16. Veteran Gold Cup 1985

Seebruck, Chiemsee, Federal Republic of Germany, May 28-31

111 entries from 10 countries

1. Jörgen Lindhardtsen D 142 0.0

2. Klaus Stuffer I 506 27.0

3. Henning Wind D 157 50.9

4. Georg Oser Z 1 59.0

5. Heini Unterhauser I 651 70.9

6. Berthold Hailer G 1853 74.6

7. Peter Weichel G 1869 74.6

8. Adalbert Or. Wiest G 1836 81.0

9. Jürgen Bärwind G 1790 100.0

10. Friedrich Müller G 1846 102.0

11. Palle-Steen Larsen D 147 106.9

12. Karel Hruby CZ 26 110.0

13. Peter Mohilla OE 1 110.0

14. G.-J van der Werf H 615 115.0

15. Wilfried Balthasar G 1671 115.0

16. Louie Nady US 1009 117.0

17. Jiri Maier CZ 304 118.0

18. Hans Wölke G 1767 122.0

19. Egbert Vincke G 1705 124.0

20. Herbert Sondermann G 1774 125.0

21. Georg Rieperdinger C 1876 125.6

22. Martin Quadfass Z 406 126.0

23. Herbert Herwig G 1682 130.0

24. Erich Kaspareth I 665 134.0

25. H.P. Schobert G 470 135.0

26. Peter Bohland C 1562 136.0

27. Horst Klein C 1687 139.0

28. Gerhard Gfreiner OE 158 153.0

29. Günter Plinke C 1733 155.0

30. Hans Dieter Faass C 1 298 158.0

31. Gerhard Benz Z 398 162.0

32. Dieter Ottlik C 1803 164.0

33. Antonin Vachek CZ 311 168.0

34. Klaus P. Schulze C 1704 171.0

35. Gerhard Kohlwig C 1 724 177.0

36. Bernd Günter C 1565 177.0

37. Laszlo Zsindely Z 347 179.0

38. Jürgen Koch G 1066 180.0

17. Veteran Gold Cup 1986

Lago di Bracciano, Italy May 18-23

83 entries from 7 countries

Four boats dominated the top of the fleet in the mainly light wind regatta, those of Heini Unterhauser, Klaus Stuffer, Václav Hudec and Georg Oser. After a postponement most days due to lack of wind, the breeze filled in early in the afternoon and the fleet managed to complete five of the schedules six races.

1. Heini Unterhauser I 651 20.7

2. Klaus Stuffer I 508 26.4

3. Georg Oser Z 1 36.7

4. Václav Hudec CZ 10 47.0

5. Peter Weichel G 1869 53.7

6. Cintl Václav CZ 7 58.0

7. Franz Steib G 1667 58.7

8. Jürgen Bärwind G 1790 61.0

9. Hans-Dieter Faass G 1298 6.7

10. Karel Hruby CZ 26 67.0

11. G J van der Werf H 615 72.7

12. Horst Klein G 1687 73.0

13. Dieter Ottlik G 1803 75.7

14. Erich Kaspareth I 665 78.7

15. Laszlo Zsindely Z 347 88.0

16. Hendrik Vincke G 1559 90.0

17. Elmar Rist G 998 91.0

18. Frank Roth Z 334 96.0

19. H Duckerhoff G 1805 99.0

20. K von Packowski G 1866 99.0

21. Herbert Herwig G 1682 103.0

22. H Drexelius G 1684 103.0

23. Riccardo Grande I 698 107.0

24. Rodney Cobb K 510 111.0

25. V Chalupnik CZ 252 113.0

26. Marcel Haegler Z 410 119.0

27. Antonin Vachek CZ 28 120.0

28. Petr Topiarz CZ 126 127.0

29. Cornel Mayrgündter I 694 129.0

30. Hans Wölke G 1767 130.0

31. Georg Rieperdinger G 1876 130.0

32. Hans-Dieter Mölls G 1509 136.0

33. Bernd Gunther G 1565 139.0

34. Jürgen Puchert G 1801 153.0

35. Jürgen Koch G 1066 153.0

36. Howard Mitchell K 373 154.0

37. Jiri Maier CZ 5 157.7

38. Peter Atzwanger I 648 158.0

39. H-P Schobert G 470 158.0

40. O Andergassen I 662 164.0

18. Veteran Gold Cup 1987

Les Embiez, France June 7-12

94 entries

Before the event the wind either blew a mistral or there was none at all. So the first race started in no wind and large waves with the wind gradually increasing up to a force 6. Tuesday’s race was abandoned due to too much wind, but then they caught up with two races on the next two days. Peter Raderschadt from Germany won his first Veteran Gold Cup with a 1,1,2,2,3 scoreline.

1. Peter Raderschadt G 1470 13.7

2. Walter Mai G 1525 23.1

3. Ivor Ganahl Z 393 33.0

4. Jiri Outrata CZ 8 44.4

5. Friedrich Müller G 1846 54.7

6. Roland Balthasar G 1665 55.0

7. Louie Nady US 1009 65.0

8. Henning Wind D 154 71.0

9. Kurt Schimitzek OE 2 73.4

10. Rodney Cobb K 491 80.0

11. Mikael Brandt S 366 82.7

12. Herbert Herwig G 1682 103.0

13. Martin Mitterer G 875 104.0

14. Herbert Sondermann G 1774 110.0

15. Han van Vierssen H 632 110.0

16. Peter Malm D 1 120.0

17. Dieter Ohlik G 1803 128.0

18. Heinrich Unterhauser I 726 130.0

19. Horst Klein G 1889 138.0

20. Rolf Lehnert G 1815 139.0

19. Veteran Gold Cup 1988

Lido degli Estensi, Italy May 21-28

100 entries from 10 countries

The big and heavy favourites were excluded this year and a Swiss, named Hans Fatzer, who had not been paid much attention to before was the great surprise. He dominated early on with a 2nd, 1st and 2nd in the light conditions and the strong current, but later in the week Schimitzek, Ottlik and König each won a race. The jury was very strict, disqualifying five boats in the first race.

1. Hans Fatzer Z 386 11.7

2. Jiri Outrata CZ 8 21.7

3. Kurt Schimitzek OE 2 36.7

4. Friedrich Müller G 1846 53.0

5. Dieter Ottlik G 1883 59.0

6. Goerg Oser Z 1 63.0

7. Goerg Rieperdinger G 1987 72.4

8. Laszlo Zsindely Z 347 74.0

9. Leek Neve B 28 79.0

10. Jürgen Barwind G 1790 81.0

20. Veteran Gold Cup 1989

Torbole, Garda, Italy May 15-20

101 entries from 10 countries

Fickle and light winds plagued the event as a low pressure system sat on top of the Alps and refused to move. The result was that there was very little wind and the famous southerly wind, the Ora, failing to come up. Peter Raderschadt won for a second time.

1. Peter Raderschadt G 1470

2. Kurt Schimitzek OE 2

3. Mikael Brandt S 681

4. Jiri Outrata CZ 8

5. Louie Nady US 1009

6. Gerd Hufner G 1500

7. Walter Mai G 1928

8. Werner Beuck G 1772

9. Friedrich Müller G 1846

10. Adalbert Wiest G 1836

11. Andi Lochbrunner G 1476

12. Horst Klein G 1489

13. Heinrich Unterhauser I 742

14. Roland Balthasar G 66

15. Jack van Hellehond H 650

16. Kees Kruyer H 538

17. Handi Hittmer G 875

18. Coppi Herwig G 1632

19. Hans-Gunther Ehlers G 35

20. Franz Steib G 1667

21. Manfred Immler G 4

22. Herbert Gondermein G 55

23. Georg Oser Z 1

24. Peter Bohland G 1562

25. Jurgen Puchert G 1801

26. Heinz Stammnitz G 40

27. Dieter Ottlik G 1803

28. Jiri Maier CZ 5

29. Peter Weichel G 1669

30. Václav Cintl CZ 7

31. Hendrik Vincke G 1559

32. Laszlo Zsindely Z 347

33. Henk de Jäger H 665

34. Olaf Burger Z 350

35. Han van Vierssen H 632

21. Finn World Masters 1990

Altenrhein, Lake Boden, Switzerland

103 entries from 11 countries

Only four races were managed to be sailed in 1990 and the rain was incessant. Mikael Brandt won the first race, came 3rd in the second and held on to his points to win. During the week, the sailors forced Georg Oser (Old Joe) to organise an ‘Oldie-AGM’. During this meeting, it was agreed that the event would be know from now on as the FINN WORLD MASTERS and to have a regular meeting during the event at which new ideas can be discussed.

1. Mikael Brandt G

2. Friedrich Müller G

3. Jiri Outrata CZ

4. Roland Balthasar G

5. G Hübner G

6. Herbert Herwig G

7. Laszlo Zsindely Z

8. Heini Mai G

10. Jürgen Kraft DDR

11. Rodney Cobb K

12. Peter Raderschadt G

22. Finn World Masters 1991

Port Camargue, France May 18-25

97 entries

Only four races were managed as the ‘Mistral’ wind whipped up a very rough Mediterranean. And when it was possible to sail there were huge shifts in the wind. However Kurt Schimitzek managed to work them out and won the regatta by a large margin.

1. Kurt Schimitzek OE 2 14.0

2. Jochen Lollert G 72 31.0

3. Hermann Heide G 51 37.0

4. Jiri Outrata CZ 8 40.0

5. Coppi Herwig G 1682 66.0

6. Heinz Stammnitz G 40 69.0

7. Peter Raderschadt G 47 73.0

8. Louis Nady US 1009 73.0

9. Henk de Jäger H 559 82.0

10. Walter Schuster OE 210 83.0

11. Herbert Sondermann G 55 97.0

12 Heinrich Unterhauser I 749 98.0

23. Finn World Masters 1992

Uppsala, Sweden June 6-12

85 entries 10 countries

In 1992 Roland Balthasar sailed consistently well and chose the correct side enough times such that he didn’t have to sail the last race.

1. Roland Balthasar G 66

2. Hermann Heide G 51

3. Peter Vollebregt H 708

4. Dieter Borges G 34

5. Jiri Outrata CZ 8

6. Kurt Schimitzek OE 2

7. Andi Lochbrunner G 1478

8. Mikael Brandt S 682

9. Axel Kettler G 14

10. Peter Bohland G 1562

11. Jurgen Kraft G 42

12. Henk de Jäger H 665

13. Wilfried Balthasar G 68

14. Jochen Lollert G 72

15. Arne Akerson S 703

16. Bernd Gunther G 1669

17. Hennie Van Den Brink H 600

18. Jan Björnberg S 681

19. Friedrich Müller G 1846

20. Manfred Immler G 4

21. Manfred Poschl G 48

22. Alfred Blum G 1941

23. Herbert Sondermann G 55

24. Hendrik Vincke G 1559

25. Mirek Vejvoda G 1559

26. John Van Altena H 670

27. Willi Ross G 88

24. Finn World Masters 1993

Lake Bracciano, Italy May 29 - June 4

127 entries

Races were won by old Finn cracks such as Kurt Schimitzek, Walter Mai, Roland Balthasar, Jan Björnberg and Peter Vollebregt. With the title still up for grabs the last race was cancelled because of too much wind. In race 4 Competitor Joseph Thermoz from France died of of heart attack and the organisers wanted to stop the regatta, but his relatives wanted them to continue. “Old Joe” Goerg Oser, long time organiser of the event, retired as Masters Supreme Organiser and handed the reigns over to Rolf Lehnert.

1. Peter Vollebregt H 708

2. Walter Mai G 3

3. Jan Björnberg S 690

4. Roland Balthasar G 66

5. Jiri Outrata CZ 8

6. Kurt Schimitzek OE 2

7. Hans-Gunther Ehlers G 35

8. Hermann Heide G 51

9. Bruno Catalan I 784

10. Chris Frydal H 664

11. Peter Raderschadt G 47

12. Henk de Jäger H 665

13. Lucio Nodari H 644

14. Wilfried Balthasar G 68

15. Axel Kettler G 171

16. Walter Schuster OE 210

17. Dieter Borges G 34

18. Andi Lochbrunner G 14

19. Friedrich Müller G 146

20. Moreno Brunori I 802

21. Manfred Immler G 4

22. Daniele Daneri I 701

23. Dieter Ottlik G 1803

24. Jürgen Kraft G 42

25. Heinrich Unterhauser I 1

26. Klaus Stuffer I 761

27. Horst Klein G 49

28. Rodney Cobb K 503

29. Bernd Gunther G 1669

30. Rolf Lehnert G 1815

31. Laszlo Zsindely Z 347

32. Adalbert Wiest G 96

33. Manfred Poschl G 48

34. Herbert Sondermann G 55

35. Kees Kruyer H 678

36. Andres Schooner H 1

37. Karl-Heinz Erich G 1939

38. Riccardo Grande I 793

39. Martin Gretsch G 67

40. Brian Hardy K 516

41. Franz Steib G 1837

42. Albert Ekes H 577

43. Patrick Moore K 533

44. Cornel Mayrgündter I 694

25. Finn World Masters 1994

Diessen, Ammersee, Germany May 21-27

140 entries

The 140 Masters had every sort of wind condition from 0-6 and after 6 races minus discard both Roland Balthasar and Jiri Outrata both had results of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and therefore exactly the same score of 14.75. Under the scoring system the scores remained tied, so there were two Masters World Champions.

1. Roland Balthasar GER 66 14.75

1. Jiri Outrata CZE 8 14.75

3. Walter Mai GER 3 25.75

4. Wolfgang Gerz GER 168 25.75

5. Hans-Günter Ehlers GER 35 31.75

6. Peter Raderschadt GER 47 42.0

7. Andreas Lochbrunner GER 44 42.0

8. Bruno Catalan ITA 784 45.0

9. Pat Healy CAN 15 45.0

10. Mikael Brandt SWE 682 53.0

11. Lucio Nodari NED 644 59.0

12. Werner Beuck GER 1 73.0

13. Horst Klein GER 49 73.0

14. Hans Fatzer SUI 427 83.0

15. Detlev Guminski GER 92 89.0

16. Ulrich Matthiesen GER 110 91.0

17. Eberhard Bieberitz GER 10 113.0

18. Gerhard Gfreiner AUT 4 113.0

19. Wilfried Balthasar GER 68 114.0

20. John van Altena NED 670 115.0

21. Laszlo Zsindely SUI 347 115.0

22. Walter Schuster AUT 210 130.0

23. Jan Björnberg SWE 690 132.0

24. Heinz Stammnitz GER 40 136.0

25. Moreno Brunori ITA 802 140.0

26. Jürgen Kraft GER 42 141.0

27. Franz Steib GER 1837 145.0

28. Alfred Blum GER 1941 153.0

29. Peter Bohland GER 1562 154.0

30. Antonin Gebhart GER 166 156.0

26. Finn World Masters 1995

Malcesine, Lake Garda, Italy

132 entries from 14 countries

At SPA, a week before the start of the Masters, Larry Lemieux found out that you don’t have to be 40 to sail the Finn World Masters, as long as you promise to turn 40 that year. That wasn’t a problem so Larry drove down to Lake Garda. Larry Lemieux, and not unexpectedly won the regatta, winning races 1,3,and 4. Roland Balthasar won race 2, Bruno Catalan won race 4 and Klaus Stuffer won race 6.

1. Lawrence Lemieux CAN 8.25

2. Kurt Schimitzek AUT 22.0

3. Wolfgang Gerz GER 23.0

4. Bruno Catalan ITA 24.75

5. Roland Balthasar GER 31.75

6. Minski Fabris CRO 37.0

7. Walter Mai GER 3

8. Peter Raderschadt GER 47

9. Chris Frydal NED 664

10. P.D. Phelan CAN 222

11. Hans-Günter Ehlers GER 70.0

12. Horst Klein GER 72.0

13. Andi Lochbrunner GER 74.0

14. Luksa Cicarelli CRO 85.0

15. Jan Björnberg SWE 100.0

16. Jiri Outrata CZE 100.0

17. Lucio Nodari NED 103.0

18. Hain Wladimir GER 117.0

19. Wilfried Balthasar GER 118.0

20. Hendrik Vincke GER 118.0

21. Klaus Stuffer ITA 119.75

22. Adalbart Wiest GER 120.0

23. John van Altena NED 120.0

24. Andrea Roost SUI 123.0

25. Henk de Jäger NED 133.0

26. Dieter Borges GER 138.0

27. Walter Schuster AUT 140.0

28. Dieter Ottlik GER 145.0

29. Han v Vierssen NED 151.0

30. Michael Pandler GER 151.0

27. Finn World Masters 1996

La Rochelle, France May 1-10

120 entries from 14 countries

For the first time ever the Finn World Masters was combined with the ‘real’ Finn Gold Cup. A scoreline of 17-2-2-1-9-1 was enough for Roland Balthasar to take the Masters title for the third time. Fifi Ehlers lead at the beginning of the regatta but faded towards the end. Wolfgang Gerz won the 5th race to take second overall.

1. Roland Balthasar GER 66

2. Wolfgang Gerz GER 12

3. Walter Mai GER 3

4. Henk de Jäger NED 665

5. Hans-Gunther Ehlers GER 35

6. Chris Frydal NED 664

7. Andi Lochbrunner GER 44

8. Bruno Catalan ITA 784

9. Eberhard Biebritz GER 10

10. Hermann Heide GER 51

11. Jiri Outrata CZE 8

12. August Miller USA 975

13. Jean Paul Gaston FRA 772

14. Sergei Chtmerbalcon UKR 21

15. Kurt Schimitzek AUT 2

16. Lucio Nodari NED 644

17. Wilfried Balthasar GER 68

18. Jochen Lollert GER 72

19. Hannes Diefenbach GER 85

20. Mikael Brandt SWE 682

21. Hans Fatzer SUI 306

22. Sten Waldo SWE 711

23. Erich Scherzer NED 711

24. Jiri Maier CZ 304

25. Bill Bell A 10

26. Franz Steib GER 1837

27. Georg Siebeck GER 293

28. Carsten Niehusen GER 17

29. Per Nilson SWE 688

30. Jan Björnberg SWE 6

31. Claude Vauthier FRA 764

32. John Van Altena NED 670

33. Karl-Heinz Erich GER 39

34. Manfred Poschl GER 48

35. Jurgen Kraft GER 42

36. Horst Klein GER 49

37. Michael Till GBR 536

38. Patrick Moore GBR 533

The problem with the Finn World Masters is that each year a new group of sailors qualify without merit simply by getting older than 40 and so few of the aged skippers kick the bucket! Since 1984 the Masters had regularly attracted over 100 boats, with the highest turnout in 1994 with 140 entries.